Hi, I am in the process of purchasing a new or used work press, the type used in pressing out axle bearings and such. Where is the best place to buy a press new or used?

What are you are your work presses in your shops use for?
What is the rating of the press?
What is the brand of press?
What do you like or dislike about the press?
What are good items or tools to have around the press?

Thanks,
Buck

 

Since I don't use mine everyday, I bought a 12 ton from harbor freight for $99 3 years ago and now wish I'd bought it 10 years ago. No problems with it at all. Used for pressing pins on pistons, pins on brake pads, control arm bushings, pins on bikes/motorcycles and probably a dozen other things that I can't think of right now. Good to have a bunch of small scrape metal laying around to brake items level and to use as extensions (flat bar, round stock, channel). Hope this helps and makes sense

 

I built my own. Currently it has a 12 ton jack on it but it was built strong enough for a much larger one. The upright legs and cross bar on mine are 6x2 channel iron. I think it is 1 1/4" solid round stock for pins.

 

I bought a 20 ton press from princess auto ( a harbour freight equivelent here in Canada ) The Brand is power fist. I had a choice between air/hyd bottle jack or just Hyd. I went with a KYB hyd. Bottle jack. I use it for all sorts of things: Pressing out bearings, bushings, joints, I do a lot of work on motorcycles so when closing up an engine casing evenly and square it's definately the tool to use. Probably for a bunch of other stuff I can't think of just yet.

I'm very satisfied with my purchase.

Madmike33

 

Although I haven't used it for anything serious yet, I would recommend the 20T unit from harbor freight. It seems well built enough for the average user. One of my press plates is warped, so I might need to get that replaced. I spend $179 on it, and am happy I didn't get the 12T model (don't mean to be offensive in any way to those that have one). This one is much beefier than its' smaller brother. I bought mine for an upcoming gear swap, and maybe some u-joint replacements, etc. I'd also like to fab press brake dies for material too thick for my 5' sheet metal brake.

On the lighter side... did you see my recent post on my new shop press?

 

In commerial use, most shops have Dake, but they run many thousands of dollars. The only other choice is imported ones like at Harbor freight. They work fine for occasional use. Since they're cheap, I'd go for a 20 ton. Other than that, if you have several to compare, you can usually tell by looking which one is best- beefier construction, etc. And be careful! Make sure you have everything straight before you apply pressure. Many applications call for some kind of pusher pin to reach the desired area. If its crooked, that pusher will pop out in a real hurry under 20 tons of pressure.

 

Ranger makes a nice 20T for $385. Not sure where its manufactured.

 

It does seem like the 20 Ton press is most common. I have taken wheel bearing and other stuff to this mechanic and he quite pricey. I could of already bought a press with all the work I've taken him. This is the reason I want to buy a press.

I'm glad you've posted the brand of press an this information will help me in my search for a press.

bterry, I haven't seen your post on presses. do you have a link to the post?.

 

A neighbor purchased a Harbor Freight unit and it was made crooked. He never could get it to work right.

 

A good press is worth it's weight in Beer. It would take forever to tell you how much I use one, but the best trick is flattening out those pesky bent bumpers all your friends get.

Mine is home made. All it cost me was the Bottle Jack for $15 on sale at Wally World.

 

Hey '75, I was wrong on the price. Its $387 not $385, sorry.
Here's a link from GES.
Press

 

at work we just got http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/35394.htm its one big machine. but i got this one for use around the ranch http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46768

 

big is what we have at work...a 400 ton cnc brake press. northern tool or harbor freight for money savings. But unless you plan on using it quite often, then the $387 one is probably your best bet.